Senate Democrats prepare government funding bill

By Rebecca Cooper
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WASHINGTON (AP/ABC7) - Senate Democrats are preparing a catchall government funding bill that denies President Barack Obama money for implementing signature first-term accomplishments like new regulations on Wall Street and his expansion of government health care subsidies but gives Democrats modest additional funding for domestic priorities like health research.

The measure is the product of bipartisan negotiations and is the legislative vehicle to fund the day-to-day operations of government through Sept. 30 - and prevent a government shutdown when current funding runs out March 27.

Monday was the first day of tours being canceled due to the stalled budget talks and sequestration.

Republicans have blasted that decision, saying there were plenty of other ways the White House could have cut its spending.

Passage in the Senate this week would presage an end to a mostly overlooked battle between House Republicans and Obama over the annual spending bills required to fund federal agencies.

The bipartisan measure comes as Washington separately girds for weeks of warfare over the longer-term budget.